LITMIR.BIZ

       Chapter 2

       MY MONEY JOURNEY AND LESSONS

       Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. . . .As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

      — MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

      I WAS BORN IN THE PHILIPPINES, the fourth female and last child, with three sisters ahead of me. At the time of my birth, my family was not rich, but neither were they poor. In fact, I come from a large extended family of professionals — attorneys, judges, engineers, teachers, politicians, nurses, accountants, architects, and so on. Yet the simple fact is I was born in a developing nation with limited opportunities.

      Even as I put these thoughts onto paper, I wonder what my life would have been like had my parents not accepted my beloved aunt’s invitation to immigrate to Canada when I was four. That one act of kindness, and my parents’ calculated decision to uproot their young family and leave behind all that they knew to begin a new life halfway across the world, was courageous and admirable. More important, that one act of compassion profoundly changed the trajectory and quality of my life forever. I am eternally grateful to my aunt and my parents.

      Although I do not remember the journey itself, I do know that my parents’ decision spared me from witnessing the daily realities of the extreme disparities in wealth that exist between the rich and poor in my birth country. It also saved me from experiencing the frustration of having untapped potential and unrealized dreams. Instead, growing up in a prosperous country paved the way for my many opportunities and successes.

      Fortunately, my parents were both college graduates and able to quickly build a solid foundation in their adopted land. I marvel at the fact that my mother earned a bachelor of commerce degree back in 1958, when women around the globe — especially in a developing nation — were not widely engaged in higher education. From when I was a young child until she reached retirement age, my mother had a corporate career, and I believe her fierce determination had a huge impact on me.

      Since I was seven years old I have been fascinated with money, wealth, and success and captivated by the people who have it. Questions such as “How did they become wealthy and successful?” and “What is the secret to a life of wealth and abundance?” were ones I often pondered early on. As I grew older, I became curious as to why some people were able to create wealth from humble beginnings, while others who had wealth could manage to lose it all. This fascination with prosperity stayed with me throughout adolescence and into adulthood. It was not a daily thought but something that was frequently, if quietly, in the background of my consciousness. It was only much later that I finally realized the real purpose of this fascination.

      My career choice at the age of twelve was to be a journalist, particularly to do what Barbara Walters did — interviewing people, learning about them, and sharing their inspiring stories. I loved what Walters did; she was a true trailblazer who paved the way for many women in her industry. Years later, I discovered Oprah Winfrey and admired her inspirational way of uplifting people to realize their fullest potential and higher calling and to follow their dreams. Her generosity and philanthropic spirit are beautiful expressions of social promise in action.

      Yet, though my parents did relatively well for themselves, one characteristic they were unable to easily overcome was their mind-set regarding money, and this mind-set affected me as well. They inherited generations of cultural beliefs and values regarding money, which primarily focused on fear, doubt, and lack. They were both very young children during World War II, when they endured hardships and were forced to go without many of life’s comforts.

      I recall early on making a conscious choice to move beyond this outlook. Even at that young age, I knew there was so much more that I was meant to do, be, and have. I simply knew that I was not on this earth to play small, since I had a bigger purpose — although I could not have imagined what it was at that time. By the time I was fifteen I was ready to adopt a different view of money, one that was more positive and productive. I had a part-time job, which gave me some independence and some experience with managing money. But it wasn’t till years later that I fully realized that I had the power to release my family’s legacy regarding money, adopt a new mind-set, and create different results in my life.

      Blessings in Disguise

      While I was at university, like many young people, I went through a rebellious phase, which again changed the course of my life path. My studies were interrupted by big life events, and by the age of twenty-three I had undergone what it takes many women years or even decades to experience. I was married briefly, became a mother, got divorced, and was living on my own with my precious baby daughter. It all happened in a flash.

      I had very quickly realized that I was living the wrong life with the wrong partner. During that time, I gave my financial power away while staying home to take care of my baby. I had to rely on my partner for money, which did not sit well with me. Within six months, I decided to leave the relationship, knowing that my and my daughter’s future would have been bleak had I stayed. Although my parents were generous in offering us a place in their home, I wanted to be on my own and craved freedom and independence.

      Living on my own with a small baby in a large city was not easy. In fact, it was scary at times. I had a sheltered upbringing and did not know how to be on my own. I didn’t even know how to cook, so I had to learn fast. At this point I decided not to apply for social assistance. It was available to me, but I was determined to make it on my own. I also decided not to pursue child support. While not ideal, at the time I was only too happy to forgo these things so that I could quickly move on and secure my independence.

      Getting a well-paying job was at the top of my list. Fortunately, I got a job in a research hospital after just a few weeks of looking. My daughter and I lived in an old but cozy one-bedroom low-rise apartment in an upscale neighborhood with a large park and a beautiful church across the street, which eased my mind.

      The only help I accepted was with childcare. I was able to secure a spot for my daughter at a coveted daycare center because, during the government elections, I decided to leverage the campaigns and badgered the mayor’s office to take my daughter off the waiting list so that I could keep my job. She was close to last on the list, which meant months of waiting for an opening. Miraculously, the next day she had her spot. That was a defining moment for me as I realized I could manifest my desires by asking for what I wanted. More specifically, I realized that I was a powerful manifester and could achieve anything that I set my mind on. My “aha” moment was that when you are completely aligned with your intention and take action on that alignment, the Universe joins and supports you.

      Those were memorable years for me. My entry-level salary was decent, but I was also left with high credit card debt and a student loan. I decided to take full responsibility for my finances, which led me to close my credit card accounts and pay for everything in cash. This meant that if I didn’t have the money, I couldn’t purchase something. It took me four years to pay off the credit cards and student loan in full; I had such a sense of accomplishment when I completed the payments. It was a good plan because I paid every bill on time, thereby maintaining a good credit rating — no credit card company or collection agency ever called me to demand money owed.

      While I did not have much in the way of material possessions or savings, with just enough for rent, food, transportation, and incidentals after the bills, I was

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